Modified by: Abraham Latimer Camba
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This spyware connects to certain URLs. It may do this to remotely inform a malicious user of its installation. It may also do this to download possibly malicious files onto the computer, which puts the computer at a greater risk of infection by other threats.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 291,328 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 15 Mar 2012

Installation

This spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\S-{Random numbers}\MsMxEng.exe"

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

Autostart Technique

This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Taskman = "%System Root%\S-{Random numbers}\MsMxEng.exe"

Download Routine

This spyware connects to the following malicious URLs:

  • {BLOCKED}lmind.cn
  • {BLOCKED}eslounge.com
  • {BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}3.210.29

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.838.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 15 Mar 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.839.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 16 Mar 2012

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • Taskman = "%System Root%\S-{Random numbers}\MsMxEng.exe"

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_ZBOT.ILU. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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